Dorsey linebacker Matthew Lyons intelligence and love for the game has allowed him to become a star player at Dorsey, and he will be heading to Washington on a football scholarship. (Photo by Jason Lewis)

Lyons loves to fly to where ever the action is. His ability to read a play leads him to the ball often.

Dorsey’s Matthew Lyons excels on the football field and off of it, with a 3.6 GPA

By Jason LewisSports Editor

Matthew Lyons is a football player. A linebacker at that. He takes on all comers with reckless abandon. That’s what it takes to play the position.

Lyons athletic ability and fearlessness helped him become All League as a junior and a preseason All City selection going into his senior year, but his intelligence has helped him develop into a great player.

“Matt is really smart and he has a sense of where the ball is going to go,” Dorsey coach Paul Knox said. “He’s able to make the reads and adjustments very quickly, which allows him to make those plays.”

Coach Knox said that Lyons has been identified as a gifted student, and his good grades have made him more appealing to colleges. Lyons has committed to Washington.

“He was ready to go and he had everything they needed with the GPA and SAT score,” Knox said.

Lyons favorite subject is math and he plans to major in mechanical engineering.

Lyons was recommending by one of his teachers to take an AP calculus course at View Park this summer, and he has taken honors English, science, and math.

Balance between sports and schoolwork is the key for Lyons. He stays ahead in classes and uses nutrition and lunch periods to study.

Being a great athlete and student has led numerous colleges to recruit him. Besides Washington, he has been recruited by Washington St, Cal, Arizona, Arizona St, Fresno St, and Pitt.

Lyons is looking forward to the college experience, and already knows that it will be a challenge.

“I’m expecting work to be a lot tougher,” Lyons said. “A lot more studying hours.”

Lyons has worked hard for years to get into this position. He started playing football at Wilshire when he was 10 years old, and then moved over to Baldwin Hills before landing at Dorsey. He really loved playing Pop Warner and said if he could, he’d play youth football for the rest of his life. But Dorsey was calling him.

“I used to see them every Friday night coming out with the band playing,” Lyons said. “I just loved it.”

Lyons has been a varsity player since his sophomore season and became a key contributor last year. But more will be expected of him this year, and he’s already stepping up to the challenge.

“Matt’s doing a great job for us,” Coach Knox said. “He’s taking a leadership role as a returning starter and a senior. He’s ready to have a good season.”

One game that Lyons can’t wait for is a rematch against Crenshaw. He’s looking for revenge.